Bobby Morrow

Bobby Joe Morrow (* October 15, 1935 in Harlingen, Texas ) is a former American track and field athlete. He won in 1956 in Melbourne three Olympic gold medals in the sprint.

Career

Already in the spring of 1956 Bobby Joe Morrow one of the 20 -year-old world record in the 100 - meter sprint of 10.2 seconds. He managed to do in advance of the AAU Championships in Bakersfield. In 10.3 seconds, he then won the final race before Leamon King and Thane Baker.

A week later ran in the U.S. Olympic trials in 1956 in Los Angeles in advance Ira Murchison and Baker 10.2 seconds, five minutes later Morrow won his heat also in 10.2 seconds. Morrow, Murchison and Baker then qualified in the finals for the Olympics. Leamon King fourth the trio for the 4x100 - meter relay should complement them. Morrow won the day after the Olympic qualifier for the 200 - meter dash in 20.6 seconds before Walter Thane Baker and the Olympic champion from 1952 Andy Stansfield. With 20.6 seconds Morrow presented here also a world record, this achievement was never recognized as a world record.

On August 3, 1956 then undercutting Willie Williams in Berlin with 10.1 seconds the world record of Jesse Owens. Ira Murchison and Leamon King stopped the record during the year.

The 1956 Olympics were held in late November to early December in Melbourne. About 100 meters after the world record was actually Ira Murchison favors, but Morrow won in each of his four runs safely and won in 10.5 seconds before Baker Gold and the Australian Hector Hogan, while Murchison only fourth. About 200 meters Morrow won forward and intermediate run, but was defeated in the semifinals Walter Thane Baker. In the final, Bobby Morrow hired the world record of 20.6 seconds, and won clearly ahead of Stanfield and Baker. On the final day of the season won with Murchison, King, Baker and Morrow then in a new world record time of 39.5 seconds ahead of the German squadron.

Immediately following the games King, Stansfield, Baker and Morrow then ran in Sydney yet a world record 4x220 - yards. 1957, Morrow then also the world record for the 100 yards of 9.3 seconds. Morrow won again in 1958 at the AAU championships. After failing to qualify for the 1960 Olympics, he finished his career.

Appreciation

Bobby Morrow was chosen for his three Olympic medals in 1956 to the U.S. athlete of the year. He was the first Sprinter by Jesse Owens in 1936, the Olympic Games of the double victory over both sprint distances succeeded, according to him this was achieved again until 1972 Valery Borzov. The one with a height of 1.86 and a competition weight of 75 kg for a sprinter then final Morrow has indeed placed on individual routes no new world record, but won all the major competitions. In addition to his Olympic victories and the AAU title in 1956, he also won the AAU Championship over 100 yards in 1955 and 1958, and the title over 220 yards in 1958.

The American sports historian Bill Mallon called Bobby Morrow in 1984 as the " unquestionably the greatest white sprinter of all time". Of course it's hard, Bobby Morrow to compare achievements with the services of Archie Hahn or Percy Williams before him or Valery Borzov or Pietro Mennea after him. But if Mallon's statement applies to 1984, then it also applies to today, because since Mennea was no white Sprinter longer the world's best sprinter of his time.

Officially recognized world records